Wikileaks release classified documents

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the recent release of classified documents by Wikileaks concerning military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Participants explore the implications of this information, the credibility of Wikileaks, and the potential consequences of public access to such sensitive data.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express excitement over the release, suggesting it will lead to significant public discourse and scrutiny of military actions.
  • Others note that the Pentagon may struggle to respond effectively due to the volume of documents released.
  • There are claims that Wikileaks may not be a reliable source, with accusations of bias and manipulation in their reporting.
  • Some participants question the nature of the revelations, suggesting that many of the issues raised are not surprising or new.
  • Concerns are raised about the potential dangers of releasing after-action reports, which could compromise military operations and tactics.
  • Participants discuss the ethical implications of government control over classified information and the public's right to know.
  • There are differing views on whether the information released could be damaging to the war effort or if it merely reflects existing issues within military operations.
  • Some express skepticism about the motivations behind the release and the credibility of the information presented by Wikileaks.
  • One participant speculates on the consequences for the individual who leaked the documents, labeling them a traitor.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the credibility of Wikileaks or the implications of the document release. Multiple competing views remain regarding the reliability of the information and the ethical considerations surrounding its publication.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include varying definitions of bias, the potential for misinterpretation of military tactics, and the unresolved nature of the ethical debate surrounding classified information.

  • #181
Proton Soup said:
but... are we really at a point where the purpose of our military is to fight evil and stamp out injustice in the world?

Which evil? The military occupation there is an evil in itself, and the proclaimed enemy now were then the "freedom fighters" that joined the "free world" in their struggle against the "evil empire" (the Soviet Union).
 
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  • #182
russ_watters said:
Wow. With such a flawed view of science, it is unsurprising that you don't see how someone with a scientific worldview can be a moral absolutist.

The principle behind my moral absolutism is exactly the same as the principle behind my scientific worldview: the way the universe works/should work is logical.

Wow, and I would really believe that if you supported your claims with science-based accounts of human morality rather than gory emotive photographs.

If you claim that science backs moral absolutism, please show me where? Game theory? Cultural anthropology? Ecology? Neuroscience? I mean where is the theory and its evidence that says anything about human affairs is absolute? Cosmologists don't even say that about the laws of the universe, so who the heck knows what you think you are talking about?
 
  • #183
BobG said:
...
There is a difference and conditions for women are better under Karzai than the Taliban, but it's a stretch to say that's because Karzai is a champion of women's rights. ...

And the position of women in Afghanistan (i.e in the region that were under control of the Afghan government) was good at the time the Soviet Union was mixing into the Afghan situation (which they were asked to do by the Afghan government of that time), but then - that was for the US not something of any consideration, so they paied and trained the opposing Mujahedien (the fundamentalist Islamic fighters) cause they were then the "freedom fighters" that would free the Afghans from the "evil" Soviets...
 
  • #184
heusdens said:
And the position of women in Afghanistan (i.e in the region that were under control of the Afghan government) was good at the time the Soviet Union was mixing into the Afghan situation (which they were asked to do by the Afghan government of that time), but then - that was for the US not something of any consideration, so they paied and trained the opposing Mujahedien (the fundamentalist Islamic fighters) cause they were then the "freedom fighters" that would free the Afghans from the "evil" Soviets...

I will be very interested in any study on the position of women under Soviet Union. Thanks.
 
  • #185
The thread has gone off topic. Actually the off topic posts are more interesting than the OP. Closed.
 

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